Surrey County Council's proposed new highways access in Epsom town centre (Image: Surrey County Council)

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Plans for improving the road layout in Epsom and reducing congestion in the town centre were put on public display.

Surrey County Council displayed the proposals, showing plans to change South Street into a two-way system and improvements to the Spread Eagle junction, at the Ebbisham Centre in Epsom on March 18, March 19 and March 21.

The council said it currently takes around 10 minutes to travel through the town centre from one side to the other, it is estimated journey times will improve by one to two minutes.

The main points of Epsom 'Plan E' Highway Improvements is to change South Street to two-way, providing an alternative route away from town without having to use the two-way system and change the junction with South Street/West Street/High Street (West) to provide a right turn into South Street.

The councils have ambitious plans for the future of Epsom town centre

A Surrey County Council transport planner said: “We are inviting everyone to fill in feedback forms, asking what particular locations are an issue for them.”

The other improvements include changing the junction with South Street/Ashley Avenue junction to allow vehicles to go southbound to Dorking Road and provide full pedestrian crossing facilities. There are plans to put traffic lights at the 'Spread Eagle' junction at the right turn from High Street to Ashley Road and to remove the Ashley Centre pedestrian crossing.

The council is keen to improve facilities for pedestrians and make walking easier by having better signing and widened footways at the Spread Eagle junction.

A member of the public who visited the public display said: “They are reducing time to cross at Eagle Junction, but they are widening the pavement, and making it more pedestrian friendly, but I am not sure about taking the [Ashley Centre] crossing out.

“I think it is good to have pedestrian facilities at the play house junction, I have always wanted pedestrian facilities there, that's a good thing.”

Public display of the transport plans at the Ebbisham Centre (Image: TMS)

£3.3 million will go into the plans, which will come from the Local Enterprise Partnership's Local Growth Fund. The transport scheme aims to promote economic growth by making it easier for shoppers to get to the town centre, provide an attractive business environment and support the creation of jobs.

“They are trying to make the clock tower area more pedestrian friendly, they are going to achieve this they say by reducing pedestrian crossings,” a member of the public said.

“For the amount of money no [it's not worth it], two of the schemes they were going to do anyway, but now they are getting a government grant. The money they had they can spend elsewhere, but I do not think it should be two way.”